What now for China’s ambitions? Watch this space

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China’s generals have not just blown to bits a satellite. They have made China’s diplomats look like fools or knaves. The Foreign Ministry, which put huge effort last year into promulgating President Hu Jintao’s “peaceful rise” slogan, is not amused.

That charm offensive was designed to convince the world that China would be a reliable international player, and to allay concerns about its massive and fast accelerating military build-up. After this unannounced and highly provocative test, “peaceful rise” will sound more like a euphemism for “get out of my way” — above all in the US, whose spy satellites the